Tips for first long motorway drive

[Megsh85]

I’ve been driving for about a year and a half now, been on the motorway a few times but I haven’t driven for longer than an hour and a half before. I’m driving from down south up to Liverpool and back and it’s approx 220 miles each way in a week as it’s cheaper to split fuel than trains.. I’m very nervous.

We are leaving on a Friday and coming back Sunday. Any tips??

You’ll be fine take a break when you feel you need one
make sure you know your route is the main thing

Depending on where ‘down south’ you’re starting from, if you’re on the M5 then Gloucester services is a nice place for a pit stop. It’s the sister location to Tebay in Cumbria; an independent place with a farm shop.

The other ok one is Norton Canes on the M6 Toll. It’s more mainstream — McDonalds and Starbucks and suchlike — but it’s relatively new and doesn’t have that ‘open prison cafeteria’ vibe that a lot of motorway services have.

This is soooo long so apologies!

When traffic is merging from the left, if there's space I always move over one lane to the right - this gives more space for merging traffic to get in, you can usually maintain a smooth speed and don't have to brake because the vehicles merging are likely travelling at a slower speed. Once the junction is passed and it's safe to do so I move left again.

If you absolutely hate it then there's no shame in using A roads for a portion - but it does add on loads of time and your sat nav will hate you.

Sunday will be much quieter on the motorways. Less commercial vehicles.

You need to be looking way ahead and looking for brake lights, slow moving traffic and merging lanes. You also need to looking in all your mirrors frequently as cars can come charging up behind and if you want to change lanes you need to know exactly where the other cars behind, in front and both sides are.

If you accidentally come off at the wrong junction then don't panic.

If you have passengers then don't hesitate to tell them to shut up - eg if traffic is heavy, weather conditions, tricky road navigation etc etc.

If it all gets a bit hairy and nerve wracking then come off at services and have a bit of a regroup.

Do not use phone (even hands free), change sat nav, scrabble around for snacks, or alter radio/heater controls etc - get passenger to do that. Keep eyes on the road. Pull in at services if you need to reprogramme satnav etc.

Get passengers to watch out for road signs as well.

When you come off the motorway then there's a countdown at the side of the road, try and get into the lane asap, even if it means pootling along for a mile or so, so much easier than trying to get into a left hand lane and not being able to because there's too much traffic.

I don't do a large amount of driving on motorways, but find it's not hideous. They are just a bit boring to drive on, especially if there are traffic queues, or even little traffic, but ever so useful to get quickly from A to B.

You will be fine. Enjoy the experience!

Oh gosh yes. Plot out the nice services!

Also just realised that you've driven on motorways before so apologies for my long list as you are probably aware of most of the points.

Just have to reiterate that this is really bad advice! Do not sit in the middle lane, it’s so dangerous for you and other drivers! Sitting in the middle lane can cause traffic to bunch up as it’s trying to get past you, making multiple car accidents more likely if stopping distances are not being observed. Some drivers will also drive too close to you to try and get you to move over to the left, dangerous & stupid but it happens. Some drivers will also overtake you on the left if you are blocking the middle lane, also dangerous & stupid but again it happens and can cause accidents if you are not aware they are coming up on your left when you are moving over to the left lane.

Keep to the left hand lane unless overtaking. If you have moved to the middle or right hand lane to overtake, before moving back to the lane on your left make sure you can see the whole of the car in the left hand lane in your rear view mirror before moving back.

Remember there is no such such thing as fast and slow lanes. The speed limit is the same in all lanes, you don’t move to the right to go faster, just to overtake slow moving traffic in front of you in the lane you are travelling in.

Definitely don’t ‘zone out’😱

keeping a BIG distance between you and the car in front, so you can stop or move into another lane / the hard shoulder if traffic in front comes to a sudden stop. Do this even if you need to slow down.

I think this is the most important stuff to remember to keep safe when driving on the motorway.

Hope you have a good trip.

I actually never stopped at service stations for tests when I first drove on motorways because I found it so frightening to merge back on. People don’t seem to get out of the way so much for re entering cars from Shell or whoever.

Just stay on the left unless you’re moving over to let people in and look ahead for brake lights and check your mirrors so you know what’s behind you.

Download WAZE to use as satnav. It is much better than Google maps. It warms of very heavy traffic and can detour you if road closed for any reason.

I always keep a shepee in dashboard just in case I get trapped on motorway behind accident for hours.

I always keep a blanket in boot and packet of biscuits for emergencies.

Take a couple bottles of water and sunglasses.

Top up oil and screen wash and full tank of petrol.

Split journey in 3 so stop at services for loo break and coffee.

I'm doing similar next Friday but going from Devon to Manchester and I've been driving for decades. Most advice here is spot-on. Definitely make sure your screen-wash, coolant, tyres etc are all topped up. Have some water to hand and sweets if you want. Do not sit in the middle lane and definitely do not zone out.

The M6 between Birmingham and the M62 is not fun but since they made most of it a managed motorway, the lower speed limits I invariably encounter actually keep the traffic flowing much better than it used to. Good luck!

As you've driven on the motorway before all I will say that is different for a long journey is check your tyres and washer fluid, plan more stops (although this goes to pot if someone needs a wee or you get stuck in traffic), and try and get someone else in charge of directions. Around Birmingham especially you need to keep an eye on which lane you need to be in so it's good to have someone looking at the sat nav/google whilst you keep an eye on the overhead signs.

I will say though that the M6 will more than likely be down to 0-40mph for a lot of the Birmingham to Cheshire stretch it's a nightmare. Traffic to used to annoy me but now I just accept I'm part of the problem too and try to chill! When it's really busy like that don't worry about keeping a big space between you and the car in front as if you do people will just constantly cut into it anyway and you are going slow enough to stop quickly.

@OMGitsnotgood I think you've quoted the wrong person ...

Don't over think it.

It's far easier driving on the motorway than any where else.

Am I in the right lane? yes / no.

Is there enough distance between me and the vehicle in front? yes/no.

Am I coming of soon? Yes / no.

Get the tunes on, have some sweets and chill out.

So sorry I did indeed was intended to be the person who said to sit in the middle lane. Will report and ask for it to be deleted

Hopefully quoted the right person this time...

This is TERRIBLE advice, please ignore. Stay in the nearside lane unless you are overtaking. Remember that traffic is very fast on a motorway to so if you do need to overtake, make sure there is plenty of space to do so.

Breaks at least every 3 hours.
3 hours is too long, especially for an inexperienced driver. At least every 2 hours is recommended, but more frequently if you are feeling tired.

Avoid being behind lorries if it's raining or the roads are wet, the spray will affect your visibility

If your car doesn't automatically switch your headlights on, then switch them on even in daylight, it improves your visibility to other drivers.

Make sure you have a map book in the car. Sat navs are brilliant but I've had them fail on me twice and I've had poor reception at some service stations - always worth having a map book as back up.

I remember my first long motorway journey so know how you feel - but once you've got it under your belt you'll be so glad you did it - good luck.

Fuck me, the amount of people who can't recognise the obvious sarcasm in @thedancingbears post...

A post where someone is asking for sensible advice about a very important topic isn't the place for sarcastic posts that might be taken at face value. I'm not even convinced it's sarcasm, you see plenty of cars sitting in the middle lane unnecessarily

I often drive between the midlands and Liverpool. My specific advice for that stretch of the M6 is that there are a few junctions where you need to be in the correct lane to follow the right road (lanes 1&2 onto one road, lanes 3&4 onto another), keep an eye on the signs above the road, they often tell you which lane you need before your sat nav kicks in. Make the most of the service stations and stop to rest, snack and wee. It’s an easier journey than the equivalent by main roads.

That was sort of my point.

But now the OP knows absolutely NOT to do this.

Not read the whole thread but I travel regularly from the south to the north (clue is in the username) and go past Liverpool. If you can depending on your route take the M6 toll it doesn’t take your phone or cash only a card. The few times Ive not done it I’ve always regretted it, maybe I’m just unlucky. I know most of the services can’t really recommend any of them TBH. I always leave between 10 am and 11 am that’s the best time to avoid the traffic. I always listen to audiobooks interspersed with radio 4.

Should add Tebay services is way past the junction for Liverpool on the M6 if you’ve got there you’ve seriously overshot your turning. I think there are two junctions for Liverpool even if you have sat nav know in advance which one you need. Good luck you’ll be fine.

Get breakdown cover
if you have breakdown cover make sure you have relay included in it
it can get very expensive very quickly if you don’t

This is a really good shout, I'm afraid. Breaking down without breakdown cover in place is actual hell on earth, and hugely expensive.

One thing I thought of if you are using sat nav is if you do find yourself in the wrong lane or you miss your exit is not to panic. Sat nav will hopefully re-route and get you back on track. We quite often take the scenic route😅

Have you bought RAC or AA break down cover ?